Amir Khan Signs With Eddie Hearn But Nobody Cares

Amir Khan has had a Hall of Fame career.

Amir Khan has had a Hall of Fame career. Of course, that is a debatable statement but it must be noted that he has fought the best of his generation, won many and memorably lost a few, but has always shown up to fight.

This week, Khan teased on social media that a major announcement was brewing from his camp. He took the world by surprise when he revealed that he had signed with British boxing impresario, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing entering the same stable as Anthony Joshua, Kell Brook, and Danny Jacobs.

Khan, a 31-year old British national, has agreed to a three-fight deal with Hearns Matchroom stable and will have his first fight in the UK in five years on April 21 at Liverpools Echo Arena. The former WBA and IBF light-welterweight king believes teaming up with the promoter of his bitter rival Kell Brook can help him become world champion for a third time.

Im thrilled to be teaming up with Matchroom, said Khan to British news outlet, The Mirror. This decision is not one Ive taken lightly, as Im at a hugely-important time in my career. But having spoken to Eddie at length, it was clear he and I were on the same page in terms of what I want to be doing and what I still want to achieve.”

Sadly, Khan who has wins over Marco Antonio Barrera, Luis Collazo, Paulie Malignaggi, Devon Alexander, and Zab Judah is known now for his terrible KO loss to Canelo Alvarez in April 2016. The fight in which Khan moved up two weight divisions to middleweight to challenge him for the WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles actually began beautifully for Khan as he outboxed Alvarez for the better of 6 rounds until he was Ko’d by a phenomenal right hand. Khan hasn’t competed since then and the boxing world wondered if Khan would hang the gloves up.

However, the future is bright for Khan as the world’s focus is still firmly on the welterweight division while the heavyweight ranks have also seen reignition. Khan’s best runs were at light welterweight and welterweight yet he still hasn’t fought many of today’s stars in that division like Shawn Porter, Errol Spence, Jr., or even an entering Terence Crawford. His TKO loss to Danny Garcia occurred at light welterweight and Khan was on his way to a world title at welterweight before he braved the ranks of middleweight and one of its kings in Alvarez.

The timing couldn’t be better for the Khan-Hearn pairing. In a matter of a few short years, Hearn has maneuvered boxing’s highest revenue potential to the United Kingdom. By building Anthony Joshua into a global superstar and selling out 75,000 seats with Kell Brook vs Errol Spence in Sheffield and 90,000 seats at the O2 Arena in London when Anthony Joshua fought Wladimir Klitschko, Hearn has the magic touch.

Khan wants to be a world champion again before calling it quits on a decorated career. He has been training with Virgil Hunter and Andre Ward, who recently retired after a flawless career. It’s understandable how Khan, who might see this as a swansong run, would sign with his countryman and potentially close out or continue his career at home where all financial indicators say he will make the most money and have a considerable global impact. It is just one more indication that Hearn is shifting the dynamic of boxing to suit Her majesty’s kingdom and Khan is returning home to be a part of the whirlwind.

Watch how Khan moves for these next three fights because if his past is any indication, it will be memorable and historic for a fighter that deserves much more credit than he has ever been given.

Rhett Butler is a Boxing Writer Association of America Journalist, Play-By-Play Commentator, Combat Sports Insider, and Former Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing Promoter. The New York City native honed his skills at various news outlets including but not limited to: TIME Magazine, Money Magazine, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Reports, and more. Rhett hosts the